On a piece of scratch paper, write down all the reasons you think the colonists were able to beat the British army. At the time the British army was the most powerful in the world. How did our ragtag military beat them? SOL 6d: Colonial Advantages Essential Question: What advantages helped the American colonists win the Revolutionary War? Over a century of self-rule Prior to the 1760’s when King George III took over, colonists pretty much did what they wanted and England did not maintain control over them. They made their own laws and were used to governing them selves. Colonial Advantages: Some colonists’ defense of their own land, principles and beliefs * Basically, the colonists were fighting for a cause and for the protection of their homes…the British soldiers were paid to fight and were only following orders of the king…they did not have ties to the land like the colonists did. Additional support from France • Without the help of the French, the colonists probably would not have had the man power to win the war. Strong leadership. Colonial armies were commanded by George Washington and other strong leaders who made wise decisions that helped them win. Home court advantage * Colonists knew the land better than the British army